ISO 10047:2025 Textiles - Determination of surface burning time of fabrics

Full title: Textiles – Determination of surface burning time of fabrics

Published by: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

Technical Committee: ISO/TC 38 (Textiles)

ICS Classification:

13.220.40 – Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products

59.080.30 – Textile fabrics

Purpose:

ISO 10047:2025 specifies a laboratory method for measuring the surface burning time of textiles with raised fibre surfaces, including napped, pile, tufted, flocked, or similar fabrics. The method provides reproducible flame propagation times, supporting quality control, product development, and fire-safety evaluation.

Scope

Applies only to textiles with raised surfaces (pile, nap, tufted, flocked).

Covers test procedures, specimen conditioning, apparatus, and reporting requirements.

Intended for performance testing, quality assurance, R&D, and fire-safety assessment.

Specimen Preparation

Parameter	Requirement
Dimensions	150 mm × 75 mm (full width if fabric <75 mm)
Exposed area in frame	125 mm × 50 mm
Number of specimens	Minimum 8 per surface orientation (4 lengthwise, 4 crosswise)
Conditioning & drying	Dry in circulating air oven at 105 °C ± 2 °C for ≥1 h; cool in desiccator ≥30 min; test within 1 min of removal

Test Environment

Temperature: 10 °C – 30 °C

Relative humidity: 15 % – 80 %

Air movement: <0.2 m/s at test start

Test Procedure

Ignition:

Use a gas burner (propane, butane, or blends) as specified in Annex A

Flame height: 40 mm ± 2 mm

Apply flame for 1.0 s ± 0.1 s

Timing:

Measure the time for the pile/nap to burn down 75 mm to the reference mark

Timing accuracy: ±0.2 s

Surface preparation:

Fibres may be raised with a brushing device (Annex B) to ensure consistent surface conditions

Required Apparatus and Accessories (Key Instruments)

To perform ISO 10047:2025 tests, the following core and auxiliary instruments are recommended:

Core Testing Equipment

Vertical Specimen Holder / Stainless Steel Frame – Holds fabric in correct orientation with reference mark.

Gas Burner (Annex A Compliant) – Provides consistent flame; flame height 40 mm ± 2 mm.

Timing Device / Stopwatch – Measures burn duration with ±0.2 s accuracy.

Brushing Device (Annex B Compliant) – Raises fibres to standardize surface before testing.

Circulating Air Oven & Desiccator – Dry specimens at 105 °C ± 2 °C and cool before testing.

Auxiliary and Safety Equipment

Conditioning Chamber / Controlled Environment – Maintains 10–30 °C and 15–80% RH.

Fume Hood / Ventilation – Protects operators from smoke and gases.

Fire Safety Equipment – Fire extinguisher or blanket for emergencies.

Protective Gear – Heat-resistant gloves and lab coat.

Using this equipment ensures accurate, reproducible, and standard-compliant results for ISO 10047:2025 testing.

Health & Safety Considerations

Burning textiles produce smoke and potentially toxic gases

Conduct tests in ventilated laboratories

Follow standard laboratory safety procedures

Reporting Requirements

Reports must include:

Reference to ISO 10047:2025

Specimen state and orientation

Number of specimens failing to burn

Individual burn times and directions (lengthwise / crosswise)

Ambient test conditions

Deviations from procedure

Statement: Results alone do not represent overall fire hazard

Applications

Performance testing for textiles in:

Apparel

Upholstery

Carpets and rugs

Curtains and soft furnishings

Quality control & R&D:

Compare flammability across fabrics, constructions, or finishing treatments

Fire-safety assessment:

Surface burning time as part of multi-property safety evaluations

Related Standards

Standard	Relevance
ISO 4880	Vocabulary for burning behaviour of textiles
ISO 10047:1993	Previous edition, for historical comparison
National / sector-specific fire-safety standards	Regulatory compliance or hazard assessment

Users of ISO 10047:2025

Textile testing laboratories and QA departments

Upholstery, carpet, and soft-furnishing manufacturers

Product safety and compliance teams

Textile researchers and material developers

Professional Testing Solutions

Qinsun Instruments specializes in textile testing instruments and provides complete solutions for ISO 10047:2025. Our equipment ensures accurate, reliable, and safe assessment of surface burning time for pile, napped, tufted, and flocked fabrics.

For equipment solutions or technical support, contact us today.

2026-01-04 16:01